Time limit selector switch



Feb. 23, 1954 J. R, mus

' TIME LIMIT SELECTOR SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1952 JOHN R. Lowe,

ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1954 J. R. LONG 2,670,412

TIME LIMIT SELECTOR SWITCH Filed Sept. 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- :Qjgli :34 I \zl 33 ill JOHN R. Lowe,

INVENTOR- ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFAFECE TIME LIMIT SELECTOR SWITCH John R. Long, Hickory, N. 0.

Application September 11, 1952, Serial No. 309,061

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electrical limit control means or timers and more especially to an improved time limit selector switch 'for making and breaking electrical. circuits in predetermined timed relationship to control the operation of various devices electrically connected to said time limit selector switch.

It is an object of this invention to provide a time limit selector switch of simplified constructich adapted to be electrically connected to a plurality of operating devices which are designed to be energized one at a time in predetermined timed relation, said time limit selector switch providing simplified means for making and breaking circuits to said devices as desired.

In the operation of various electrically operated devices it is frequently necessary to cause the devices to be operated or energized timed relation to each other, such as by energizing the first device for specified periods of time and then dc-energizing the same and energizing a second device for a specified period of time and so forth.

The electrical devices may be machines or solenoid type switches or other switches or valves associated with various machines and this time limit selector switch is adapted to be used with various types of electrical devices.

It is another object of this invention to provide a time limit selector switch disposed in a circuit with a plurality of electrical devices and being provided with a rotor and a stator with said '-stator having a plurality of electrical contact means thereon and said rotor having a single electrical contact means thereon. Means are provided for rotating the rotor at a predetermined speed to cause one or" the contacts thereon at a time to engage the contact on the stator :for a predetermined time for completing a circuit to "one of the electrical devices at a time and for holding said circuit for said predetermined time.

Some 'of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the improved time limit selector "switch;

Figure :2 is an enlarged vertical sectional :view through the switch taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;;

Figure 3 is a view lookingat the left hand end of Figure 1 and showing a plurality of electrical devices schematically connected to the time limit selector switch;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view looking down on the left :hand "end of Figure .1, with parts in section;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the selector unit taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View on a reduced scale along the line 3-fi in Figure 5 show-- ing the rotor in a different position from that shown in Figure 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral $3 broadly designates the improved time limit selector switch per se. It will be observed in Figure 1 that the selector switch is is mounted on an L-shaped bracket ll .suitablysupported as "at S. The time limit selector switch '1 B comprises a stator 23 which also serves as one half of the switch housing and is formed of any suitable insulating material and has a reduced hub portion 14 integral therewith (Figures 4 and 5). The stator I3 is preferably circular in elevation and is provided with a circular cavity or bore It formed or cut therein. The hub portion it extends through .a suitable core is in the vertical portion of the bracket H and the stator I3 is secured to the bracket It by any suitable means such as screws H.

A rotor 2!! which is also preferably circular in elevation and formed from insulating material is rotatably mounted within the cavity 15 in the stator 13 and is adjustably secured on va reduced portion ll of a motor shaft '22 as by a set screw 23 which threadably penetrates a reduced por tion '24 of the rotor re. The shaft 22 extends to 'a suitable speed reduction unit 25 (Figure 1) of conventional or other design and which is connected by a shaft is to a suitable electric motor 2-! having wires 3% and 3| extending therefrom to a suitable source of electric energy, not shown. The speed reduction unit 25 and the motor 2! may also be mounted on the support S in any suitable manner.

It will thus be observed that rotation may be imparted to the rotor as at any desired speed from the motor 21 through the speed reduction unit 25 and the "shait 2.2.

The cavity '25 in the stator 13 provides :the stator with a circurm erential flange which is penetrated 'by a plurality of electrical contact members or spring fingers. There may be any desired number of these fingers and as illustrated six of said fingers areshownfat' b, c, d, e,.and J". Each of the fingers c, e, and 1 are identical in construction and only the finger a will be described :in detail with like reference characters applying :to like parts of the other contact fingers.

The contact finger n comprises :an elongated "leaf spring member 32 having a collar portion 33 integral therewith or secured to the outer end 3 thereof which is penetrated by a screw 34 which penetrates the circumferential flange of the stator 13 for securing the leaf spring member 32 in position. The spring member 32 penetrates the flange of the stator l3 through a slot 35 in said flange and the free end of the leaf spring member 32 is positioned closely adjacent but spaced from the periphery of the rotor 23. Obviously, a slot 35 is provided for each of the contact fingers a, b, c, d, e, and f and these slots extend through the stator at an angle to the periphery thereof to insure proper flexing of the leaf spring members.

Wires 4B, 4!, 42, G3, 44, and 45 are connected to the respective contacts a, b, c, d, e, and f by the screws 34 and extend to respective electrical devices A, B, C, D, E, and F. The electricaldevices A, B, C, D, E, and F schematically illustrate any suitable electrically operable means such as solenoid switchespmotors, valves or the like which may be energized by means of the time limit selector switch it.

The stator 20 is provided with a single electrical contact means in the form of a rod or pole 50 adjustably mounted in a radially extending bore in the rotor 23 and extending outwardly from the periphery of the rotor 20. The contact 50 is held in desired position by means of a screw (Figure 5) which penetrates the rotor 20 in an axial direction and engages the inner end of the contact 53 thus permitting variation in the length of the contact 55 extending beyond the periphery of the rotor 29. A fixed insulated stud 53 (Figures 2 and 6) is also provided which is preferably threaded into the periphery of the rotor 28 adjacent the adjustable contact 50. The stud 53 may be adjusted by means of threads if desired and is normally disposed so that the outer end thereof is positioned somewhat outwardly from the periphery of the rotor relative to the outer end of the contact 50.

A U-shaped bridging contact 55 (Figure 5) is connected at one end to the screw 5i and has a bearing surface on the other end thereof which engages the inner end of a stationary contact 3i! adjustably mounted in a hub portion 6! of a dish-shaped cap member 32 adapted to mate with the stator i3 and which acts as the other half of the housing enclosing the cavity i5 having the rotor 23 therein. The dish-shaped cap member 62 has a cavity 63 therein corresponding to the cavity is and is also provided with a bore 54 of the same diameter as the stator l3 to permit the cap 32 to fit over the outer periphery of the stator l3. relation to the stator [3 by any d sired means such as spring clips 65.

The stationary contact to is threaded at its outer end and has one end of a wire it connected thereto as by a nut II. The wire extends to one side of a male plug 68 which may be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy, not shown. The other side of the male plug 68 one end of a plurality of branch wires 72, 13, i4,

-75, i6, and i7 is connected and which extend therefrom to the respective electrically operable devices A, B, C, D, E, and F.

It will thus be observed that as the rotor is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 2 it will cause the stud 53 to engage one of the leaf spring members 32 to flex the same so that the end of the leaf spring member 32 will then snap off of the stud 53, as the rotor 20 continues torotate, into engagement with the outer end of The cap member 62 is held in fixed has a lead wire 39 connected thereto to which the contact 50 thus completing a circuit through the screw 5!, the contact bridge 55, the stationary contact 60, and the wire 10 to the specified electrical device A, B, C, D, E, or F as the case may be. This particular electrical device will remain in operation so long as the leaf spring member 32 is in contact with the contact 50. If the rotor 23 is rotated at a relatively slow speed, the leaf spring member 32 will remain in engagement with the contact 50 for some time before the connection is broken.

For example, the rotor 23 may be set to rotate at one-sixth of a revolution per minute which would cause a circuit to be completed to one of the electrical devices every minute, and in the present illustration, the device would be operated for approximately ten seconds at which time the spring member 32 would snap over the contact 58) and break the circuit. Adjustment of the screw 5! permits adjustment of the contact 59 to cause it to remain in engagement with the respective leaf springs 32 any desired length of time. This contact may also be varied by varying the speed imparted to the rotor 20.

It will thus be observed that in the present illustration, the circuit is first made to the electrical device A from the contact member a and as this circuit is broken none of the devices are operated and shortly thereafter a circuit is completed to the electrical device B which device opcrates for a predetermined length of time equal to that at which the device A operated and then the circuit is broken and the process is repeated for making and breaking circuits to the devices 0, D, E, and F, one at a time.

This improved time limit selector switch may be used very effectively in timing the operation of solenoid valves for controlling the flow of compressed air to cleaning means associated with textile machines and the like and may also be used for various other purposes.

In the drawings and specifications, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A time limit selector switch connected in an electrical circuit for controlling the length of time said circuit is completed to one of a plurality of electrical devices connected in parallel in said circuit, said time limit selector switch comprising a stator and a rotor, said stator having an'annular flang integral therewith, a plurality of leaf spring members mounted in said flange and extending therethrough to a point adjacent the rotor, said rotor being rotatably mounted in said stator, means for rotating the rotor at any selected speed, an adjustable stud and an adjustable contact pole mounted in said rotor, said stud and pole contacting one of said leaf spring members at a time as said rotor is rotated, said stud and pole being adjustable to provide means for controlling the length of time said leaf spring members remain in engagement with said contact pole, means connecting the inner end of said contact pole to the electrical circuit, and means connecting the outer ends of said leaf spring members to said electrical devices.

2. A time limit selector switch connected in series in an electrical circuit for controlling the length of time said circuit is completed to one of a plurality of electrical devices connected in parallel in said circuit, said time limit selector switch comprising a stator a rotor, said stator having an annular flange integral therewith, a plurality of leaf spring members mounted in said flange and extending therethrough to a point adjacent the rotor, said rotor being rotatably mounted in said stator, means for rotating the rotor at any selected speed comprising a motor, a speed reduction unit connected to motor and a shaft connected to said speed reduction unit and rotatably penetrating said stator "and having said rotor adjustably fixed thereon,

an adjustable stud and an adjustable contact pole. mounted in said rotor, said stud and pole contacting one of said leaf spring members at a time as said rotor is rotated, stud pole being adjustable to provide means for controlling the length or" time said leaf spring members remain in engagement with said contact pole, means connecting the inner end of said contact pole to the electrical circuit, means connecting the outer ends of said leaf spring members to said electrical devices.

3.- A time limit selector switch connected in an electrical circuit for controlling the length of time said circuit is completed to one of a plurality of electrical devices connected in parallel in said circuit, said time limit selector switch comprising a stator and a rotor, said stator having an annular flange integral therewith, a plurality of leaf spring members mounted in said flange and extending therethrough to a point adjacent said rotor, said rotor being rotatably mounted within the confines of the flange of said stator, means for rotating the rotor at any selected speed, an adjustable stud and an adjustable contact pole mounted in said rotor, said stud and pole contacting one of said leaf spring members at a time as said rotor is rotated, said stud and pole being adjustable to provide means for controlling the length of time said leaf spring members remain in engagement with said contact pole, a cap member secured to said stator and enclosing said rotor, a fixed contact secured in said cap member, means connecting the inner end of said contact pole in said rotor in the electrical circuit comprising a bridging contact, one end of which is fixed relative to the rotor and the opposite end of which rotatably contacts said fixed contact in said cap member, and means connecting the outer ends of said leaf spring members to said electrical devices.

4. A time limit selector switch conne'oted in an electrical circuit for controlling the length of time said circuit is completed to one of a plurality of electrical devices connected in parallel in said circuit, said time limit selector switch comprising a stator and a rotor, said stator having an annular flange integral therewith, a plurality of radially spaced slots penetrating said flange, a plurality of leaf spring members, one of each mounted in each of said slots and extending therethrough, the outer ends of said leaf spring members fixed to the outer periphery of said flange, the other ends of said leaf spring members extending internally at an angle relative to the radial axis of the said rotor and to a point adjacent thereto, said rotor being rotatably mounted within the confines of the flange of said stator, means for rotating the rotor at any selected speed, an adjustable stud and an adjustable contact pole mounted in said rotor, said stud and pole contacting one or" said leaf spring members at a time as said rotor is rotated, said stud and pole being adjustable to provide means for controlling the length of time said leaf spring membars remain in engagement with said contact pole, a. cap member secured to said stator and enclosing said rotor, a fixed contact secured in cap member and positioned in said electrical circuit, means connecting the inner end of said contact pole to the fixed contact comprising a bridging contact, one end of which is fixed relative to the rotor and the other end of which rotatably contacts said fixed contact in said cap member, and means connecting the outer ends of said leaf spring members to said electrical devices.

5. A limit selector switch connected an electrical circuit for controlling the length of time said circuit is completed to one of a plu rality of electrical devices connected in parallel in said circuit, time limit selector-switch comprising a stator and a rotor, said stator having an annular flange integral therewith, a plurality oi radially spaced slots penetrating said flange, a plurality of leaf spring members, one of each mounted in each of said slots and extendtherethrough, the outer ends of said leaf spring members fixed to the outer periphery of said flange, the other ends of said leaf spring membe s extending internally at an angle relative to the radial axis of the said rotor and to a point adjacent thereto, said rotor being rotatably mounted within the confines of the flange of said stator, means for rotating the rotor at any selected speed, an adjustable stud and an adjustable contact pole mounted in said rotor, said stud extending a relatively greater distance from said rotor than said contact pole, said stud and pole contacting one 01 said leaf spring members at a time as said rotor is rotated, said stud and pole being adjustable to provide means for controlling the length of time said leaf spring members remain in engagement with said contact pole, a cap member secured to said stator and enclosing said rotor, a fixed contact secured in said cap member and positioned in said electrical cir cult, means connecting the inner end of said contact pole to the fixed contact comprising a bridging contact, one end of which is fixed relative to the rotor and the other end of which rotatably contacts said fixed contact in said cap member, and means connecting the outer ends of said leaf spring members to said electrical devices.

6. A time limit selector switch connected in an electrical circuit for controlling the length of time said circuit is completed to one of a. plurality of electrical devices connected in parallel in said circuit, said time limit selector switch comprising a stator and a rotor, said stator having an annular flange integral therewith, a plurality of slots spaced radially and extending through said flange, a plurality of leaf spring members mounted in said slots and extending therethrough, the outer ends of said leaf spring members being fixedly mounted on the outer periphery of said flange, the other end of said leaf spring members extending internally to a point adjacent the rotor, said rotor being rotatably mounted in said stator, means for rotating the rotor at any selected speed, an adjustable stud and an adjustable contact pole mounted in said rotor and extending radially therefrom and being engageable by one of said leaf spring members at a time, said stud and pole being adjustable to provide means for controlling the length of time said leaf spring members remain in engagement with said contact pole, means connecting the inner end of said contact pole to the 7 electrical circuit, and means connecting the outer ends of said leaf spring members to said electrical devices.

'7. A time limit selector switch connected in series in a circuit for controlling the length of time said circuit is completed to one of a-plurality of electrical devices connected in parallel in said circuit, said time limit selector switch comprising a stator and a rotor, said stator having an annular flange integral therewith, a plurality of slots in said flange extending therethrough, a plurality of leaf spring members one of which is mounted in each of said slots in the flange and the outer end of each of said leaf spring members extending through said slots and being fixedly mounted adjacent the outer ends thereof to the outer periphery of said flange, the other end of each of said leaf spring members extends inwardly and to a point adjacent the rotor, said rotor being rotatably mounted in said stator, means for rotating the rotor at any selected speed comprising a motor, a speed reduction unit connected to said motor and a shaft connected to said speed reduction unit and rotatably penetrating said stator and having said rotor adjustably fixed thereon, an adjustable stud and an adjustable contact pole mounted in said rotor and extending radially from said rotor, said stud and pole contacting one of said leaf spring members at a time as said rotor is rotated, said stud and pole being adjustable to provide means for controlling the length of time said leaf spring members remain in engagement with said contact pole, means connecting the inner end of said contact pole to the electrical circuit, and means connecting the outer ends of said leaf spring members to said electrical devices.

JOHN R. LONG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 870,353 Foote Nov. 5, 1907 1,349,523 Middlebrook Aug. 10, 1920 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,073 Norway Jan. 29, 1908 

